Yuri Dojc
Encyclopedia
Yuri Dojc is a Slovak-Canadian fine arts and commercial photographer whose works include black and white nude studies, portraits of Canadian World War II veterans and projects such as American Dreams, Marble Woman and his Last Folio exhibit.
in Eastern Slovakia
, where his father was headmaster of a secondary school and his mother a teacher. The family later relocated to Bratislava
. In 1968 he was on a summer student exchange program in London when the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
occurred. Following the advice of his father, Dojc decided that he would not return and a year later emigrated to Toronto, Canada.
Dojc studied mechanical engineering followed by psychology at Comenius University in Bratislava before the Soviet invasion interrupted his schooling. Upon arriving in Canada, he enrolled in the photography program at Ryerson University
in Toronto. While at school, he become photo editor of the student weekly Eyeopener working alongside future newspaper journalist Christie Blatchford
, CBC reporter Paul Workman
, City reporter Jojo Chintoh
and comedian Paul Chato
.
, Irving Penn
, Man Ray
and Guy Bourdin
, as well as painters René Magritte
, Egon Schiele
, and Amedeo Modigliani
. His early shots were of doors, windows, chairs and flowers before gravitating toward human subjects. In the 1980s during the height of the poster business, Dojc's images appeared in the movie D.C. Cab
. "Legs", "Bicycle", and "Chair" were three of his biggest sellers. His commercial clients have included FedEx, Apple, GM, Porsche, Canon, Club Med, Brooks and Panasonic.
Early life and education
Dojc grew up in HumennéHumenné
Humenné is a town in the Prešov Region in eastern Slovakia and the second largest town of the historic Zemplín region. It lies at the volcanic Vihorlat mountains and at the confluence of the Laborec and Cirocha Rivers.-Characteristics:...
in Eastern Slovakia
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, where his father was headmaster of a secondary school and his mother a teacher. The family later relocated to Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
. In 1968 he was on a summer student exchange program in London when the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia
On the night of 20–21 August 1968, the Soviet Union and her main satellite states in the Warsaw Pact – Bulgaria, the German Democratic Republic , Hungary and Poland – invaded the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic in order to halt Alexander Dubček's Prague Spring political liberalization...
occurred. Following the advice of his father, Dojc decided that he would not return and a year later emigrated to Toronto, Canada.
Dojc studied mechanical engineering followed by psychology at Comenius University in Bratislava before the Soviet invasion interrupted his schooling. Upon arriving in Canada, he enrolled in the photography program at Ryerson University
Ryerson University
Ryerson University is a public research university located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its urban campus is adjacent to Yonge-Dundas Square located at the busiest intersection in Downtown Toronto. The majority of its buildings are in the blocks northeast of the square in Toronto's Garden...
in Toronto. While at school, he become photo editor of the student weekly Eyeopener working alongside future newspaper journalist Christie Blatchford
Christie Blatchford
Christie Blatchford is a Canadian newspaper columnist, journalist and broadcaster. She has published four non-fiction books.-Life and work:...
, CBC reporter Paul Workman
Paul Workman
Paul Workman is a Canadian journalist. He is currently the CTV News Washington Bureau Chief, filing his first report on February 3, 2009. Workman was formerly the South Asia Bureau Chief based in New Delhi, India. Prior to joining CTV News on July 13, 2006, he was a journalist for CBC News for over...
, City reporter Jojo Chintoh
Jojo Chintoh
Jojo Chintoh is a Canadian television journalist, who worked as a feature and documentary reporter for Citytv in Toronto until 2009/2010....
and comedian Paul Chato
Paul Chato
Paul Chato is a comedian and World Wide Web media executive. He was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, in 1954 to Hungarian parents. Paul grew up in the first planned community in North America, Don Mills...
.
Career
Among Dojc's early influences are Edward WestonEdward Weston
Edward Henry Weston was a 20th century American photographer. He has been called "one of the most innovative and influential American photographers…" and "one of the masters of 20th century photography." Over the course of his forty-year career Weston photographed an increasingly expansive set of...
, Irving Penn
Irving Penn
Irving Penn was an American photographer known for his portraiture and fashion photography.-Early career:Irving Penn studied under Alexey Brodovitch at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art from which he was graduated in 1938. Penn's drawings were published by Harper's Bazaar and he...
, Man Ray
Man Ray
Man Ray , born Emmanuel Radnitzky, was an American artist who spent most of his career in Paris, France. Perhaps best described simply as a modernist, he was a significant contributor to both the Dada and Surrealist movements, although his ties to each were informal...
and Guy Bourdin
Guy Bourdin
Guy Louis Bourdin , born Guy Louis Banarès, was a French fashion photographer.-Life and career:Guy Louis Banarès was born December 2, 1928, at 7 Rue Popincourt, Paris...
, as well as painters René Magritte
René Magritte
René François Ghislain Magritte[p] was a Belgian surrealist artist. He became well known for a number of witty and thought-provoking images...
, Egon Schiele
Egon Schiele
Egon Schiele was an Austrian painter. A protégé of Gustav Klimt, Schiele was a major figurative painter of the early 20th century. His work is noted for its intensity, and the many self-portraits the artist produced...
, and Amedeo Modigliani
Amedeo Modigliani
Amedeo Clemente Modigliani was an Italian painter and sculptor who worked mainly in France. Primarily a figurative artist, he became known for paintings and sculptures in a modern style characterized by mask-like faces and elongation of form...
. His early shots were of doors, windows, chairs and flowers before gravitating toward human subjects. In the 1980s during the height of the poster business, Dojc's images appeared in the movie D.C. Cab
D.C. Cab
D.C. Cab is a 1983 comedy film, starring Mr. T, Max Gail, Adam Baldwin, Gary Busey and a special appearance by singer Irene Cara. The film was co-written and directed by Joel Schumacher. The R-rated comedy was controversial upon release due to Mr...
. "Legs", "Bicycle", and "Chair" were three of his biggest sellers. His commercial clients have included FedEx, Apple, GM, Porsche, Canon, Club Med, Brooks and Panasonic.
Exhibits
- Last Folio: A Photographic Journey with Yuri Dojc opened at the Grunwald Gallery at the University of Indiana on September 1, 2011 /9/images_immortalise_jewish_past_in_slovakia.html. Other recent exhibits and showcases include the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York, the European Commission in Brussels, Gonwille Cays Library in Cambridge, England, and the National Museum of Slovakia.
Books
- Last Folio, University of Indiana Press, 2011
- Honour, Chartwell, 2010
- Eros Fotographia Yuri Dojc, Gruppo Editoriale L'Espresso, 2003
- Marble Woman, Firefly Books, 1993